Why the College Dropout Rates are so High

For decades America has attempted to get more young adults into college and yet even with the high enrollment rates the college dropout rates are skyrocketing high. According to a study from 2007 by the Department of Education over 30 percent of college students drop out after the first year and almost 50 percent never graduate. The increasingly high college dropout rate is a growing problem that America faces. Many educators and other officials are trying to find answers and solutions to this problem.

No one can say for sure what the reasons are behind so many students are dropping out of college. Among the many reasons students have for leaving college are financial struggles and simply because they were not prepared for college.

Government officials and educators believe that a majority of students who graduate from high school aren’t academically ready to handle college level classes. While students are in high school many students decided to take it easy their senior year. Since most high schools only require students to take three years of science and social studies courses some students feel they no longer need courses in those fields. College administrators say this is one of the reasons why students aren’t prepared for college. They claim that the student is wasting a year of his or her education to take easier classes that won’t necessarily prepare them for college level courses. Also, students are finding that they have to take remedial classes in math, reading and English to catch up with their peers. Even when taking remedial classes students are still struggling to get by. Homework and studying come in heavy loads in college, while college freshmen barely spent two hours a night on homework in high school. College freshmen do not have the proper studying and note-taking techniques that are needed to succeed in college courses.

Along with students not being academically prepared for college, others may find themselves not being able to handle the freedoms and responsibilities that come along with leaving home for higher education. A high number of students drop out of college because they cannot find a proper balance between social and academic life. According to recent studies 1,400 college students die every year because of alcohol poisoning, drunk driving, dangerous pranks and other risky behaviors (all alcohol related). The majority of those students being college freshmen. Sara Stanton, a student at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire recalls her freshmen year; "I remember going to parties every night for the first couple of weeks. There aren't any major exams or papers for the first couple of weeks, so you're almost lulled into a false sense of security. But you snap out of it pretty quick. I remember feeling like the grasshopper that played all summer; now it was my turn to pay, (Whitborne, 2).” Excessive partying and dating takes time away from students from their studies and though at first they may seem to be able to keep up with their work, in the end the results are poor and failing grades.

A fairly new reason for students leaving college is an increase in mental illnesses, such as depression and anxiety. In a 2005 survey, 90 percent of college counseling centers reported seeing students with more serious mental illnesses. The increase is leaving many colleges struggling with ways to address this problem. A majority of colleges have programs that help students with emotional needs. Some schools give students with mental illnesses the choice between a six month voluntary leave or a twelve month involuntary leave to get back on track. While other schools such as The University of Illinois have created a suicide prevention program. The program includes four sessions of therapy after a suicide attempt or threat from a student. The university claims that the suicide rate has been cut in half since the program was initiated in the 1980’s.

Lastly, financial reasons seem to be at the top of the charts for why many students do not finish their degrees. According to 2007 statistics, 38 percent of college dropouts leave school due to financial problems. An average student attending college for a four year degree totals in more than $15,000 to $20,000 of debt by the time they graduate. The increase in tuition and decline in student grants makes it very difficult for students to be able to pay off loans and debt. On top of tuition costs, students have to pay for books, food, and other necessities. With all these costs in mind, many students can’t afford to finish school or even afford to pay for what little college they have completed.

Whatever the reasons may be behind students leaving college, one thing for certain is that the college dropout rate is an increasing problem throughout the nation. College preparation in high school is just one of the few things educators and officials could improve. Creating student success programs, freshman studies classes, suicide awareness, and funding to start these programs and continue research on how colleges can produce more graduating students could be a few solutions to our nations problem.